Reclosable dispensing carton



Jurie 30, 1970 M. T. 'FARQUHAR 3,5l7,858

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ON June 30, 1970 M. T. FARQUHAR RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 8, 1968 '52 'NVENTOR MELVILLE T FARQUHAR Mbadu,

ATTORNEYS June 1970 M.. T. FARQUHAR 5 1 RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CARTON Filed Aug. 8, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 5 'NVENTOR MELVILLE T FARQUHAR AT TORN EYS June 30, 1970 M. T. FARQUHAR RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CARTON 4 Sh'eets-Shet 4.

Filed Aug. 8, 1968 INV'ENTOR MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 01 iice 3,517,858 RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CARTON Melville T. Farqhar, Bon Air, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 751,295 Int. Cl. A47f 1/ 04 U.S. Cl. 221-305 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reclosable carton for dispensing cylindrical objects in which a tear open flap spans a portion of two main panels of the carton. In one embodiment, a pair of score lines, which define the tear open flap, are made shorter than the diameter of the cylindrical objects thereby preventing axial removal of the objects with the tear open flap open. However, a side panel flap is shaped to enlarge the dispensng opening so that the cylindrical objects may be swung out. In another embodiment, a tab is struck from the tear open flap to provide a fiexible obstruction to direct axial removal of the cylindrical objects.

This invention relates to a reclosable carton construction and more particularly to a reclosable carton construction for dispensing cylindrical objects such as cans or the like.

The present invention is especially useful in connection with cartons to be used on picnics or the like wherein it is desired to keep the contents of the cylindrical objects cool for extended periods of time. In this connection, it is within the purview of the present invention to provide a foil lining, such as an aluminum foil lining, to the eXterior of the paperboard carton so as to reflect substantial amounts of heat in maintaining the contents of the cylindrical objects cool.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a reclosable means for the tear open tab wherein the already opened carton may be kept substantially airtight after opening although not hermetically sealed.

Another important provision is the means for preventing cans from sliding out axially once the carton has been opened initially.

The tear open flap used to provide an opening through which the individual cylindrical objects may be dispensed spans two main panels of the carton. The tear open flap itself is formed by parallel score lines which extend laterally across a flap forming an overlapping portion of a front panel perpendicular to a fold line between it and the top panel of the carton into which the score line extends. A parallel score line substantially coincident with the fold line between the top panel and side panel parallels the first score line and forms the opposite side of the tear open tab. A crease line interconnects the ends of the two score lines to provide a hinge point about which the tear open tab may pivot when it is folded into reclosing position.

The carton is formed substantially in Conventional manner With the exception of the formation of the tear open panel itself and the registered release coatings which are placed upon a side panel flap and a bottom flap. The former is used to ensure that the tear open reclosable flap will not cause an unsightly appearance of the carton after it is removed and also to permit reinsertion of the end of the tear open flap behind the underlying flap which forms a portion of the front panel. The latter releasable coating is provided with a series of skips therein, that is, adhesive spots, whereby a tacling or limited adhesion is provided for the end of the tear open panel so that it will not become bent or otherwise abused during handling.

In one form of the invention the tear open panel ex- 3,5l7,858 Patented June 30, 1970 tends into the top panel for such a length that an obstruction remains to a direct axial removal of the cylindrical objects from the carton. A flap hingedly secured to one of the side panels that is folded behind the front panel has a portion thereof removed so as to give it a shape which will permit an enlargement of the opening when the tear open panel has been opened so that the cylindrical objects may be swung toward this enlarged opening and removed from the carton.

In a second form of the invention, the score lines defining the tear open panel are made longer than the diameters of the 'cylindrical objects to be dispensed but a tab struck from the tear open flap provides a releasable obstruction to actual withdrawal ot' the cylindrical objects from the carton and thereby prevents accidental dispensing thereof.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon considering the following detailed description of the invention and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing a carton of this invention filled with cans and with the flaps wide open but ready for closing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating partial closing of the flaps;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the closing sequence subsequent to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a completely closed carton;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the tear open flap open;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the position of a can as it is being removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 6 after the tear open flap has been reclosed; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and drawn to an enlarged scale;'

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary Vertical cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5 and drawn to an enlarged Scale;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank construction illustrating the panels and flaps which constitute the reclosable feature;

FIG. 11 is a perspective View of another embodiment of a reclosable carton construction;

FIG. 12 is a perspective View similar to FIG. 11 illustrating the tear open flap open; and

FIG. 13 is a Vertical cross sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. l2 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a carton indicated generally at 20 which contains a plurality of cylindrical objects 22, such as cans or the like. Carton 20 is provided with a top panel 24, side panels 26 and 28, and bottom panel 30. The top panel 24 is provided with a top panel flap indicated generally at 32 which is divided into two portions 34 and 36 'by means of a score line 37. Score line 37 is illustrated to consist of a series of angle cuts sometimes referred to as J cuts but may consist of any desired means for providing a rupturable score pattern in the carton.

The bottom panel 30 is provided with a bottom panel flap 38. Similarly, side panels 26 and 28 are provided with side panel flaps `40 and 42, respectively.

Referring to the illustration in FIG. 2, the open side panel flaps 40 and 42 have been folded into closed position thereby revealing a non-stick or release coating 44 which is applied to the carton by registration at the time the carton is printed so that the lacement of the releasable coating 44 may bc controlled within about a thirty-second of an inch without difficulty. Similarly, the side panel flap 40 difiers from its Opposing flap 42 in that a portion 3 of flap 40 has been cut away producing an arcuate edge 46, thereby enlarging the hole through which a cylindrical object may be dispensed as can be seen *best in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be observed that the bottom flap 38 has been folded upwardly and the top panel flap 32 has been partially folded down. Bottom panel flap 38 is provided with a release coating 48 Which has a width equal to that of the top panel flap portion at 36 so that the latter portion will not 'be adhesively secured to the bottom panel flap 38 except in the areas 50 wherein the release coatin-g has not been applied.

The areas 50 are cut by circular dies at the time that the blank is die cut. The Circular dies are of such a length that the circular holes will be placed into the paperboard construction for approximately one-half its thickness. Therefore, when the portion 36 of top panel flap 32 is adhesively secured thereto in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 and then opened as illustrated in FIG. 5, these circles 50 will be pulled out as the tear strip flap is opened.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the score line 37 is substantially perpendicular to the fold line or hinged connection between the top panel flap 32 and the top panel 24. Score line 37 also continues into top panel 24 for a distance slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical objects 22. Extending parallel thereto is a second score line 52 which is substantially coincident with the fold line or hinged connection between the top panel 24 and side panel 26. The extent of score line 52 along the hinged connection is substantially equal to that of the extension of score line 37 into top panel 24. A crease line 54 constitutes a line of weakness which substantially interconnects the innermost ends of the score lines 37 and 52, thereby defining a portion 58 which together with top panel flap 36 constitutes a tear open flap indicated generally at 60 in FIGS. 5 and 12.

FIG. shows a conventional glue flap 62 by means of which the carton is formed into a tubular form. The rear wall of the carton (not shown) is formed in conventional manner by conventional flaps attached to the top, bottom and side panels.

The purpose of using registered printed release coating such as is shown at 48 and 44 is that conventional solid line glue applicators may be used to apply an adhesive coating to the remainder of the flaps 32, 38, 40 and 42 in conventional manner. This greatly facilitates the high speed production of the subject carton.

When it is desired to open the carton 20 it is preferably stood on side panel 26, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the tear open flap 60 is torn open to the position of FIG. 5 by inserting ones fingers beneath the edge of flap 60, overcoming the tack adhesive provided by circular dots 50 and rupturing score lines 37 and 52, thereby reaching the position shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, it is convenient to grasp the exposed cylindrical object or container 22 and swing it to the position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 and then pull the container straight out. In so doing, either of the Containers 22a or 22b illustrated in FIG. 9 will fall or roll into dispensing position. As can be seen also in FIG. 9, there is a portion of the container 22 in position to be dispensed shown to the right of portion 58 which remains obstructed from direct axial removal from the carton. With the flap 40 shaped to provide an opening in the front panel by means of having an arcuate cut-away portion 46, the can to -be dispensed may be removed without difficulty.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 through 13. In these figures, identical numerals are used to identify the substantially identical parts shown in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 10. The carton itself is identified generally at 70 in this embodiment and it will be observed that the tear open flap indicated generally at' 60 in FIG. 13 has had a flap 72 struck therefrom whereby an individual cylindrical object 22 is obstructed from axial removal from carton 70 thereby. In this form of the invention, the score lines 37 which extend into the top panel 24 are each made longer than the diameter of the cylindrical object to be dispensed so that the only obstruction to free axial removal of the can is the flap 72 which may be c0nveniently flexed in order to remove the can. The use of a cut-away portion 46 for the side panel flap 40 is therefore optional in this form of the invention.

It will be apparent that the shape of flap 72 is not critical and may take other forms so long as it provides a temporary obstruction to direct removal of the cylindrical object 22 from the carton. For example, a semicircular tab with opposite ends of its diameter coincident with the ends of score lines 37 and 52 may be used.

This second form of the invention is especially useful when the container has an inwardly olfset chime such as is disclosed in Reynolds et al. 3,387,702, issued June 11, 1968. This type of container effectively has no chime at either end so that such a container may be removed axially without interference with the chime on an adjacent container.

In each form of the present invention a release coating at 44 on the side panel flap 40 is essential behind the underlying flap 38 of the front panel in order to provide a reclosure space between the underlying flap 38 and side panel flap 40 whenever a registered application of the adhesive is not used.

While the designation of top, bottom and side panels has been used herein for purposes of readily identifying the respective panels of the carton, it will be apparent that an interchange of these terms is possible without departing from the essence of this invention. For example, in the formation of the carton as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the designation of top, bottom and side is apt as disclosed therein. However, the container is placed on the side panel 26 in its dispensing position as shown in FIGS. 4 through 9 of the first embodiment and FIGS. 11 through 13 for the second embodiment. Thus in the dispensing position the side panels in efiect become the top and bottom panels and the bottom panel and top panel become side panels.

As has been noted, the use of a foil lined carton is contemplated herein in that the carton may be taken on picnics or the like for preserving liquid contents of the cylindrical articles cool for extended periods of time. However, the carton may also be placed in a conventional refrigerator and used as a dispensing holder for the cylindrical objects therein, in which event the use of foil would not be essential.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A reclosable carton construction for dispensing cylindrical objects comprising.

(a) a carton having hingedly secured top, bottom and side panels,

(b) said top and bottom panels having fiaps hingedly secured thereto which overlap to form a front panel,

(c) and a tear open, reclosable flap formed in said carton, said tear open reclosable flap being formed iby (1) a first score line extending laterally across said top panel flap substantially perpendicular to the hinged connection between said flap and said top panel and continuing into said top panel, (2) a second score line parallel to said first score line and spaced from said first score line a distance greater than the diameters of said cylindrical objects,

(a) said second score line being substantially coincident with the hinged connection between said top panel and a first one of said side panels,

(3) said top panel being weakened along a line substantially interconnecting the inner-most ends of said score lines thereby forming a hinge line for reclosure of said tear open flap,

(d) said first side .panel having a flap hingedly secured thereto and being adhesively secured to a portion of the underlying flap for-ming said front panel,

(1) said side panel flap being provided with adhesive means thereon in such a pattern whereby said tear open flap does not adhere thereto and a non-adhesive portion is provided behind said underlying flap whereby said tear open flap may be reclosed by inserting an end thereof between said underlying flap of said front panel and said flap hingedly secured to said first side panel.

2. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said score lines are of such a length that when said tear open flap is opened said cylindrical objects are obstructed from axial removal from said carton.

3. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 2 -wherein said flap of said first side panel is shaped to provide an opening in the front panel of said carton when said tear open flap is opened whereby non-axial removal of said cylindrical objects is permitted.

4. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said first score line extends into top panel a distance greater than the diameter of said cylindrical objects, said second score line is of a length greater than the diameter of said cylindrical objects and means for obstructing axial removal of said cylindrical objects when said tear open flap is opened.

5. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for obstructing axial removal of said cylindrical objects consists of a tab integral with said top panel and struck from said tear open flap.

6. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said underlying flap forrning a portion of said front panel is provided with a release coating beneath said tear open flap except for a plurality of points whereby said tear open flap is given only limited adhesion prior to opening. v

7. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said score lines are of such a length that when said tear flap is opened said cylindrical objects are obstructed from axial removal from said carton.

8. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 7 wherein said flap of said first side panel is shaped to provide an opening in the front panel of said carton when said tear open flap is opened whereby non-axial removal of said cylindrical objects is permitted.

9. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said first score line extends into top panel a distance greater than the dia-meter of said cylindrical objects, said second score line is of a length greater than the diameter of said cylindrical objects and means for obstructing axial removal of said cylindrical objects when said tear open flap is opened.

10. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for obstructing axial removal of said cylindrical objects consists of a tab integral with said top panel and struck from said tear open flap.

11. A reclosable carton construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive means applied to said side panel flap includes a release coating over a portion thereof.

'References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,35l,812 6/1944 Guyer 229-51 2,7 6 5,`906 10/ 1956 Rossum 221-305 X 3,356,279 12/1967 Root 221-305 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary 'Examiner D. A. SCH'ERB'EL, Assistant Examiner 

